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Mining programs in the Water Supply Catchments

The Current Mining Program in the Water Catchments

The table and map below reveal the extent of intensive coal mining in Sydney's water supply catchments. There is potential for for very serious environmental damage to these sensitive and precious water supply areas. There are six operational* and two currently proposed mines in the water supply catchments south of Sydney:

Colliery

Catchment

Company

Mining Method

Appin* (CL 768,381,388 767)

Metropolitan

BHP-Billiton

Longwall

West Cliff* (CL 724)

O'Hares

BHP-Billiton

Longwall

Metropolitan* (CL 379, 703)

O'Hares and Woronora

Peabody Energy

Longwall

NRE No 1* (Bellambi West) (CL 745)

Metropolitan

NRE Gujarat

Longwall

Delta* (Elouera) (CL 768)

Metropolitan

NRE Gujarat

Longwall

Avon (CL 765)

Metropolitan

NRE Gujarat

?

Dendrobium* (CL 768)

Metropolitan

BHP-Billiton

Longwall

Bargo (CL 747)

Metropolitan

Xstrata Coal

Longwall

Key: CL= Coal Lease.

The full extent of damage from mining, however, is unknown. Monitoring of mining damage is incomplete and public access to the catchments is prohibited. Additional serious damage to our water supply catchments has been discovered by environment groups on three occasions: at the Elouera mine in 2000 (stream flow loss); and at the Dendrobium mine in January and February 2008 (additional major cliff falls and crevasses).

The Sydney Catchment Authority expect that 91 per cent of the water supply catchments will be mined, so there is significant potential for extensive and serious damage.

Extent of Coal Mining Leases in the Metropolitan drinking water catchments.

Note: Coal Mining leases are shown in grey, and more are being sought.